ESTUDIO DEL CAPÍTULO

Exodus 14 — Crossing the Red Sea

Jehovah instructs Israel to encamp by the sea, hardens Pharaoh's heart, delivers Israel through the parted waters, and drowns the Egyptian army in the returning sea.

Escritura

  1. 1.Habló Jehová a Moisés, diciendo:And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
  2. 2.Di a los hijos de Israel que den la vuelta y acampen delante de Pi-hahirot, entre Migdol y el mar hacia Baal-zefón; delante de él acamparéis junto al mar.Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon: over against it shall ye encamp by the sea.
  3. 3.Porque Faraón dirá de los hijos de Israel: Encerrados están en la tierra, el desierto los ha encerrado.And Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.
  4. 4.Y yo endureceré el corazón de Faraón para que los siga; y seré glorificado en Faraón y en todo su ejército, y sabrán los egipcios que yo soy Jehová. Y ellos lo hicieron así.And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he shall follow after them; and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah. And they did so.
  5. 5.Y fue dado aviso al rey de Egipto, que el pueblo huía; y el corazón de Faraón y de sus siervos se volvió contra el pueblo, y dijeron: ¿Cómo hemos hecho esto de haber dejado ir a Israel, para que no nos sirva?And it was told the king of Egypt that the people were fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people, and they said, What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
  6. 6.Y unció su carro, y tomó consigo su pueblo;And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
  7. 7.y tomó seiscientos carros escogidos, y todos los carros de Egipto, y los capitanes sobre ellos.and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over all of them.
  8. 8.Y endureció Jehová el corazón de Faraón rey de Egipto, y él siguió a los hijos de Israel; pero los hijos de Israel habían salido con mano poderosa.And Jehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: for the children of Israel went out with a high hand.
  9. 9.Siguiéndolos, pues, los egipcios, con toda la caballería y carros de Faraón, su gente de a caballo, y todo su ejército, los alcanzaron acampados junto al mar, al lado de Pi-hahirot, delante de Baal-zefón.And the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.
  10. 10.Y cuando Faraón se hubo acercado, los hijos de Israel alzaron sus ojos, y he aquí que los egipcios venían tras ellos; por lo que los hijos de Israel temieron en gran manera, y clamaron a Jehová.And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto Jehovah.
  11. 11.Y dijeron a Moisés: ¿No había sepulcros en Egipto, que nos has sacado para que muramos en el desierto? ¿Por qué has hecho así con nosotros, que nos has sacado de Egipto?And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to bring us forth out of Egypt?
  12. 12.¿No es esto lo que te hablamos en Egipto, diciendo: Déjanos servir a los egipcios? Porque mejor nos fuera servir a los egipcios, que morir nosotros en el desierto.Is not this the word that we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
  13. 13.Y Moisés dijo al pueblo: No temáis; estad firmes, y ved la salvación que Jehová hará hoy con vosotros; porque los egipcios que hoy habéis visto, nunca más para siempre los veréis.And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah, which he will work for you to-day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
  14. 14.Jehová peleará por vosotros, y vosotros estaréis tranquilos.Jehovah will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
  15. 15.Entonces Jehová dijo a Moisés: ¿Por qué clamas a mí? Di a los hijos de Israel que marchen.And Jehovah said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.
  16. 16.Y tú alza tu vara, y extiende tu mano sobre el mar, y divídelo, y entren los hijos de Israel por en medio del mar, en seco.And lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go into the midst of the sea on dry ground.
  17. 17.Y he aquí, yo endureceré el corazón de los egipcios para que los sigan; y yo me glorificaré en Faraón y en todo su ejército, en sus carros y en su caballería;And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them: and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
  18. 18.y sabrán los egipcios que yo soy Jehová, cuando me glorifique en Faraón, en sus carros y en su gente de a caballo.And the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have gotten me honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
  19. 19.Y el ángel de Dios que iba delante del campamento de Israel, se apartó e iba en pos de ellos; y asimismo la columna de nube que iba delante de ellos se apartó y se puso a sus espaldas,And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud removed from before them, and stood behind them:
  20. 20.e iba entre el campamento de los egipcios y el campamento de Israel; y era nube y tinieblas para aquéllos, y alumbraba a Israel de noche, y en toda aquella noche nunca se acercaron los unos a los otros.and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by night: and the one came not near the other all the night.
  21. 21.Y extendió Moisés su mano sobre el mar, e hizo Jehová que el mar se retirase por recio viento oriental toda aquella noche; y volvió el mar en seco, y las aguas quedaron divididas.And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
  22. 22.Entonces los hijos de Israel entraron por en medio del mar, en seco, teniendo las aguas como muro a su derecha y a su izquierda.And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
  23. 23.Y siguiéndolos los egipcios, entraron tras ellos hasta la mitad del mar, toda la caballería de Faraón, sus carros y su gente de a caballo.And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
  24. 24.Aconteció a la vigilia de la mañana, que Jehová miró el campamento de los egipcios desde la columna de fuego y nube, y trastornó el campamento de los egipcios,And it came to pass in the morning watch, that Jehovah looked forth upon the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians.
  25. 25.y quitó las ruedas de sus carros, y los trastornó gravemente. Entonces los egipcios dijeron: Huyamos de delante de Israel, porque Jehová pelea por ellos contra los egipcios.And he took off their chariot wheels, and they drove them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for Jehovah fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
  26. 26.Y Jehová dijo a Moisés: Extiende tu mano sobre el mar, para que las aguas vuelvan sobre los egipcios, sobre sus carros, y sobre su caballería.And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
  27. 27.Entonces Moisés extendió su mano sobre el mar, y cuando amanecía, el mar se volvió en toda su fuerza, y los egipcios al huir se encontraban con el mar; y Jehová derribó a los egipcios en medio del mar.And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and Jehovah overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
  28. 28.Y volvieron las aguas, y cubrieron los carros y la caballería, y todo el ejército de Faraón que había entrado tras ellos en el mar; no quedó de ellos ni uno.And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea; there remained not so much as one of them.
  29. 29.Y los hijos de Israel fueron por en medio del mar, en seco, teniendo las aguas por muro a su derecha y a su izquierda.But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
  30. 30.Así salvó Jehová aquel día a Israel de mano de los egipcios; e Israel vio a los egipcios muertos a la orilla del mar.Thus Jehovah saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore.
  31. 31.Y vio Israel aquel grande hecho que Jehová ejecutó contra los egipcios; y el pueblo temió a Jehová, y creyeron a Jehová y a Moisés su siervo.And Israel saw the great work which Jehovah did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared Jehovah: and they believed in Jehovah, and in his servant Moses.

Qué significa este pasaje

Chapter 14 has two halves. The first half (vv. 1–14) prepares the encounter: Israel is told to camp between Migdol and the sea (v. 2), a route designed to provoke Pharaoh's pursuit (v. 3). Jehovah declares that He will harden Pharaoh's heart (vv. 4, 8, 17) so that the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah (vv. 4, 18). When Pharaoh and his army overtake Israel at the sea (vv. 5–10), the people cry out in fear and accuse Moses of leading them to die in the wilderness (vv. 11–12). Moses answers with two commands: stand still and see the salvation of Jehovah (v. 13), and hold your peace, for Jehovah will fight for you (v. 14).

The second half (vv. 15–31) is the deliverance itself. Jehovah interrupts Moses' prayer to command forward movement (v. 15) and the lifting of the rod to divide the sea (v. 16). A strong east wind drives the waters back all night (v. 21), Israel walks through on dry ground with walls of water on either side (vv. 22, 29), and the Egyptians pursue into the sea (vv. 23, 28). At the morning watch, Jehovah discomfits the army, the chariot wheels are removed (vv. 24–25), and the waters return to cover Pharaoh's host so that not one remains (vv. 26–28). The chapter closes with Israel seeing the dead Egyptians on the shore, fearing Jehovah, and believing in Jehovah and in his servant Moses (vv. 30–31).

Structurally, the chapter is framed by two confessions. It opens with the divine declaration that Egypt will know Jehovah (vv. 4, 18) and closes with Israel's confession of faith in Jehovah and Moses (v. 31). The repeated verbs of hardening, pursuing, and knowing make clear that the chapter presents the sea event as an act of divine self-revelation: salvation is given without Israel's fighting, and judgment falls on Egypt without Israel's hand, so that the credit for both belongs to Jehovah alone.

Contexto

Within Exodus, chapter 14 records the climactic sea event at the end of the departure narrative. Jehovah's hardening of Pharaoh's heart in v. 8 follows a series of earlier hardening notices and links back to the divine purpose stated in v. 4 and repeated in v. 18, that the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah. The opening verses also embed the chapter in Israel's wilderness itinerary: the encampment before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon (v. 2) places Israel at a specific location where Israel looks back and sees the Egyptians marching after them (v. 10).

Theologically, the chapter is paired with the Song of Moses in Exodus 15, which celebrates the horse and rider thrown into the sea (vv. 1, 21) and identifies Jehovah as a man of war (Exodus 15:3). The phrase Jehovah fighteth for them against the Egyptians in v. 25 is the same thought that is picked up again in 15:3, making chapter 14 the event and chapter 15 the praise. The notice that Israel believed in Jehovah and in his servant Moses in v. 31 also marks the first explicit trust response in the wilderness and sets up the murmuring that will follow at Marah.

Palabras clave del original

  • H3068 Jehovah (יְהֹוָה), the personal covenant name of Israel's God. In Exodus 14 it appears in the opening speech formula (v. 1), in the hardening declarations (vv. 4, 8, 17), in Moses' command that Jehovah will fight for you (v. 14), in the Egyptians' confession Jehovah fighteth for them against the Egyptians (v. 25), and in the closing note that Israel believed in Jehovah (v. 31).
  • H6547 Pharaoh (פַּרְעֹה), the title of the Egyptian king. In this chapter, Jehovah's speech frames Pharaoh's pursuit: he will say Israel is entangled (v. 3), his heart will be hardened so that he follows (vv. 4, 8, 17), and his chariots and horsemen will be covered by the returning waters (vv. 23, 28). Pharaoh's role in the chapter is to provide the occasion for the Egyptians to know that I am Jehovah (vv. 4, 18).

Versículos relacionados

  • Deuteronomy 3:22 Moses' later injunction Ye shall not fear them; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you echoes the promise given at the sea that Jehovah will fight for you (Exodus 14:14).
  • 2 Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of Jehovah parallels Moses' command Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah (Exodus 14:13), showing that the sea pattern is reused as a template for later battles in Israel's history.
  • Exodus 14:30 The internal summary Thus Jehovah saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, included in the cross-reference list, marks the editorial close of the chapter: salvation belongs to Jehovah alone, and Israel sees the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore (cf. v. 31).

Preguntas frecuentes

Why does Jehovah tell Israel to turn back and camp by the sea in vv. 1–4?

The route given in v. 2—before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon—appears to trap Israel against the sea, but v. 3 shows the purpose: Pharaoh will say Israel is entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. Jehovah frames this not as a miscalculation but as the setup for his declared aim that the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah (vv. 4, 18), worked out through the hardening of Pharaoh's heart and the ensuing pursuit.

How many times is the hardening of Pharaoh's heart mentioned in Exodus 14, and in which verses?

Hardening of Pharaoh's heart appears in vv. 4, 8, and 17. V. 4 has Jehovah say I will harden Pharaoh's heart; v. 8 reports that Jehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt; v. 17 has Jehovah say I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after Israel. The chapter's other hardening language is not found here; v. 18 speaks only of getting honor upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians knowing Jehovah, not of hardening.

Where does the phrase the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah appear in Exodus 14?

The clause appears in two verses. V. 4 has and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah as part of Jehovah's purpose statement about Pharaoh's heart. V. 18 has the same thought in the form and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have gotten me honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. The chapter frames its purpose around this double declaration at the start and again right before the sea closes.

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